the goan I network
MARGAO
Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai on Saturday took his agro-tourism concept to Salcete coastal belt, promising to come out with a scheme wherein farmers cultivating the fields round the year can avail benefit of a temporary shack right in the middle of the field.
And, in a bid to give big boost for organic farming, Sardesai has further promised to allot one organic cluster to each of the seven village panchayats in Benaulim.
Interacting with the farmers at the Benaulim Panchayat ghar at the invitation of Churchill Alemao on Saturday, the agriculture minister said the scheme granting temporary shack structures in the fields cultivated throughout the year will help make Goa green and take Goa forward in the field of tourism. “I will ask the TCP to work out a scheme wherein farmers who cultivate fields around the year along the State’s coastal belt get the benefit by way of a temporary shack structure. This will not only motivate the youngsters to go for agriculture, but will make Goa green and also take Goa forward in tourism”, he later told media.
On organic farming, Sardesai pointed out that Goa has been allotted around 500 organic clusters to take organic farming to a new high, while promising to allot one cluster to each of the seven Panchayats in Benaulim constituency.
Saying that community farming can help revive agriculture along the coastal belt, the agriculture minister offered support and assistance from the department to farmers joining hands to avail schemes under the community farming.
Referring to the complaints made by farmers that they cannot go to their fields with the traditional bandhs blocked by the owners, Sardesai said he is aware of the
problems faced by the farmers over the access to the fields. “The soil conservation cell of the Agriculture department has drawn up a scheme to build access with the help of NOCs from the owners. I am aware there are occasions when the owners/farmers do not give their NOC”, he said, while issuing a stern warning that the government would invoke the Requisition and Acquisition Act to build access to the farmers.
Expressing happiness that Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao has taken the initiative to promote agriculture and make Goa green, Sardesai said the agriculture department will fully support the initiative of the people.
Referring to the statement made by the Benaulim MLA that agriculture in the coastal belt is no more economical and viable, Sardesai said the high labour costs indeed has made many a farmer in talukas such as Salcete abandon agriculture.
He, however, said the government’s scheme to revive the Gaunkari system and the khazan lands will give a boost for agriculture in the State. “We have decided to revive khazan land. If farmers are ready to revive khazan lands, the government will provide them monetary assistance. The government has already made a budgetary provision for this purpose”, he added.
Rules for Krishi cards to be eased
MARGAO: Agriculture department will soon issue Krishi cards to landless farmers based on an affidavit and after ascertaining other guidelines.
In fact, Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai has said government will ease guidelines for issuing Krishi cards so that landless farmers in the State are eligible for sops announced by Union Finance Minister Piyush Goel.
“We have come across farmers who are landless and who are not eligible for Krishi cards. These farmers and their previous generations have been into agriculture, but they are not eligible for Krishi cards as they don’t own land”, he said, fearing that such farmers in Goa will not benefit from Union Finance Minister Piyush Goel’s budgetary promise to deposit Rs 6000 in the accounts of small farmers whose land holdings are less than two hectares. “I have directed the Agriculture Director to take steps to ease guidelines for obtaining Krishi cards immediately”, he added.
